Touch-adjusting mechanism for piano-keys.



I'M-882,814. I PATENTBD MAR; 24, 190s.

- w. M. OLEMANS.

woven ADJUSTING MBGHANISM FOR PIANO KEYS.

A YPLIOA'I'IOIIILED APR. 11. 1907.

THE murals PETIRS cn.,-w4:muron, a. c

'WILLIAM M. OLEMANS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

TOUCH-ADJ US'IIN G MECHANISM FOR PIANO-KEYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed April 11, 1907. Serial No. 367,479.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. CLEMANs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Touch-AdjustingMechansim for Piano-Keys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in piano-keys, and more particuarly to a touch-adjusting device for piano- I keys.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive touch-adjusting device for piano-keys which may be readily and conveniently adjusted by any person to suit his or her own individual need or fancy, whether such person be familiar with, or ignorant of, piano construction.

With these andother objects in view, the invention finally consists in the particular construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being herein had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a piano-key embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ad usting device.

Referring to said drawings, in which like reference -numerals designate like parts throughout the several views1 indicates a piano-key which has therein beyond its pivotal connection 2 on the balance-rail a slot 3 in which is mounted the touch-adjusting mechanism of my invention. Said mechanism comprises a longitudinal threaded pin or bolt 4 whose length is slightly less than that of the slot 3. Mounted upon said bolt 4 adj acent to its head 5 is a securing-plate 6 hav-' ing parallel legs 7 fitted within mortises 8 in the opposite sides of the key and secured thereto by means of screws 9, and a nut 10 carried by said bolt is driven up tight behind said plate for holding said bolt and plate in fixed relation. A like securing-plate 11 is provided upon the opposite end of said bolt, said plate having its parallel legs 12 fitted in mortises 13 in the opposite sides of the key and secured thereto by means of screws 14. A lock-nut 15 carried by said bolt stands in bearing engagement with said plate 11. As is obvious, the nuts 10 and 15 cooperate to hold said bolt rigidly in place.

Mounted upon the bolt 4. intermediate its ends and in threaded engagement therewith is one or more metal weights 16 whose position may be readily shifted along said bolt to adjust the touch or action to any desired degree of lightness or stifiness. It will be noted that the desired adjustment may readily be effected by moving the weight forwarder rearward along the threads of the bolt according as it is desired to diminish or increase the lightness of the key action, it being apparent that the force to be exerted for depressing the key will be increased as the distance between the pivotal point 2 of the key and the weight 16 is increased, and vice versa.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple and efficient device of the character described, and that the touchadjusting mechanism may be readily applied to the keys of pianos already in use as well as to those which are in the process of construction, such old keys requiring only to be slotted and mortised for receiving such mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A slotted piano-key having mounted therein a touch-adjusting device, said device comprising a threaded bolt extending longitudinally of said slot, supports for the ends of said bolt, said supports comprising securing-plates which lie in the ends of said slot and have parallel legs embracing opposite sides of the key, said legs lying in mortises provided in said key, and looking-nuts carried by said bolt in bearing engagement with said plates for holding said bolt in fixed position, and a weight adjustably mounted upon said bolt intermediate its ends.

2. A piano-key having a slot therein at a point behind its pivotal connection with the balance-rail and having mortises in its opposite sides at the opposite ends of said slot, a threaded bolt lying in said slot, securingplates for supporting the opposite ends of said bolt, each plate having parallel legs, said plates having their legs rigidly held in the mortises at the ends of the slot, lock-nuts carried by said bolt in bearing engagement with said plates, and a weight adjustably mounted upon said bolt intermediate its ends.

3. A piano comprising in its construction a key pivotally mounted upon the balancerail thereof, said key having a longitudinal at the opposite end of said slot, a lock-nut threaded into bearing engagement withsaid second securing-plate for holding the bolt 15 rigidly in place, and a weight adjustably mounted upon said bolt intermediate its ends.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM M. CLEMANS.

Witnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, EARLE A. LENKARD. 

